Personal object carrying medical details

ABSTRACT

A personal object, particularly a watch, medal or bracelet, to be worn by an individual and bearing personal medical information about the individual. The object is designed so that the individual&#39;s confidential medical information is not visible from the exterior when the individual wears the object but can be readily found and understood by the staff of rescue agencies aiding the individual. The medical information is set out in standardized form on different sections of an indication surface (6) which is covered by an ID tag (5) that bears, in particular, information on the individual&#39;s identity. Each section of the indication surface (6) is covered by a removable tag portion (73) on the ID tag (5). If the individual has a medical risk indicated on one of the sections, the individual simply breaks the tag portion (73) covering that section to reveal the medical risk shown on that section through the ID tag. The existence of this risk is shown by means of a display device on the front face of the object, for example on the watch face in the case of a watch, and complementary data concerning the risk can be shown by the display device and by tabs (7-10) attached to the watch bracelet (3).

The present invention concerns a personal object for an individual towear, specifically a watch, a medal or a bracelet, including indicatingmeans showing medical information about that person.

In many accident cases it is found that the injured person often doesnot carry current emergency medical information, or that emergencypersonnel cannot locate the information. This situation is caused bythat fact that emergency instructions which people carry are often notreadily accessible. As a result, an injured person risks receivinginappropriate or even dangerous medical treatment.

There have been various proposals for supplying personal medicalinformation on a personal object to be worn at all times, such as awristwatch, a piece of jewelry, a medal, etc., perhaps in combinationwith a symbol to attract attention and/or an inscription showing theindividual's identity. Such objects are described in publications FR-A-1272 870, FR-A-1 513 675, FR-A-2 372 479 and DE-A-2 619 419. However, allthese objects have disadvantages and shortcomings which have discouragedwidespread use. In order for such an information system to be reliableand effective, it must be widely used and well known to emergencyworkers responding to accidents. To become well known, the objects inquestion must be worn by many people; that is, they must meet criteriasuch as convenience, effectiveness, appearance and cost. The objectsmust be clearly recognizable as indicators of personal medicalinformation, but since the information is confidential, it should not bevisible when the object is worn.

Certain of these conditions are fulfilled, for example, by the jewelrydescribed in document FR-A-2 372 479. Medical information such as bloodtype, allergies, infections requiring precautions, as well as thewearer's identity, are inscribed on a hidden surface, while a generallyvisible surface of the jewelry has a symbol for attracting attention,such as a red cross or the SOS sign. For example, the hidden surface maybe concealed by a pivoting cover with the exterior symbol. The hiddensurface may simply be the inside surface of a bracelet, with the symbolon the outer surface. However, this type of jewelry is not in commonuse, except for blood type identification. Apart from esthetics, thereare also various technical reasons for this. Engraving the user'sidentity and medical information requires space and is also costly. Inaddition, if the wearer's health condition changes, it is difficult tochange the information. Finally, there is presently no standardizedmedical information system and even if it were to exist, such an objectcould not readily adapt to it.

Several of the documents cited above provide for engraving medicalinformation and a person's identity on a wristwatch, for example, on thebase or on plates affixed to either the watch or the bracelet. DocumentFR-A-1 272 870 proposes a medal or a watch with a covered housing whichholds a document providing useful emergency information. It also has adistinctive visible symbol indicating that the object contains thisinformation. But such an object also has the disadvantages mentionedabove.

The present invention proposes an object such as that defined in thepreamble, which can be worn at all times and which is designed so thatemergency personnel can clearly, readily identify necessary information,while the information remains confidential. It is also desirable to beable to modify the information easily and without incurring additionalcost. A specific aim of the invention is to provide a compact watch ofcurrent design, particularly a wristwatch, to furnish such information.

According to a basic principle of the present invention, the subject isa personal object of the type described above, characterized in that theinformation indicators consist of an indication surface having a seriesof fields with graphics representing respective medical conditions, andan individual identification plate which at least partially covers theindication surface and furnishes the identity of the wearer, saididentification plate having removable segments above these fields, eachsegment covering one of the fields in the initial phase when the segmentis attached to the plate, and revealing the field when the segment isremoved from the plate.

With such an arrangement it is possible to provide a series of standardmedical data covering the most current risks on the respective fields ofthe indication surface; that is, this surface can be the same for allindividuals and is preferably universal. The wearer's individualconditions are then indicated by removing appropriate segments from theplate to reveal the corresponding fields, and these risks are thenassociated with the identity of the individual concerned, inscribed onthe plate along with other information such as, for example, birth date,address, etc. Such a plate is inexpensive and easily changed if one ofthe conditions disappears. If a new condition arises, it is necessaryonly to remove the corresponding segment. Even in the absence of aninternational system for identifying medical information, the positionof each visible field is sufficient to identify the correspondingcondition. Thus, medical information can be discreetly supplied oncertain types of personal objects where the indication plate cannot bepermanently hidden, such as pendants. Furthermore, the indications arenot language specific.

The indication surface and the identification plate are preferablylocated on an interior surface or on the underside of an object which isinvisible when worn, and the visual warning symbols are located on anupper surface of the object which is visible when worn. The warningsymbols preferably consist of conventional symbols representing healthservice or first aid, in a fixed, permanently visible position. Thus,emergency personnel would notice immediately that the object can furnishuseful medical information in an emergency.

In a preferred embodiment, the visual symbols consist of a displaydevice with control means and at least one window to selectively displayat least one symbol of a medical condition. The display device providesa readily visible sign on the visible surface of the object alertingemergency personnel to look for the personal medical informationprovided on a concealed surface of the object.

In a preferred embodiment the display means is a mechanical device, thatis, one which will function at all times and is not dependent upon thebattery supplying an electronic watch movement, for example.

The display device may include a watch face, a first rotatable disklocated behind the face and which is associated with control means, afirst and a second window in the face, and at least two differentwarning symbols on the first disk which appear selectively in thewindows. The first disk preferably has four stable positions, and thetwo warning symbols on the first disk are arranged so they appear insaid windows corresponding to said stable positions.

The display means may also comprise another window for displaying aperson's blood type. Specifically, the display means may comprise asecond rotatable disk located behind the watch face, associated withcontrol means, and with a circular arrangement of symbols representingvarious human blood types corresponding to said other window.

In an advantageous embodiment, the disk or each disk is integral with astar-shaped element, the spokes of which cooperate with a jump spring todefine the stable disk positions, and with the control means whichincludes a button acting on the spokes of the star.

The indication surface and the identification plate may be located in agroove on a lower surface of the object, and the plate and the groovehave complementary shapes around their edges which define a uniqueposition for the plate to engage in the groove.

The indication surface is preferably located on a ring placed in thebase of the groove, near its periphery, and the removable segments arepre-cut portions located around the rim of the identification plate.They are designed to be broken off individually.

If the personal object is in the form of a wristwatch, the visualwarning symbols are advantageously combined with the watch face. Thewindow or each window may be located in the watch face. The displaydevice may be inside a watch case, between the face and the watchmovement. If it is a wristwatch, at least one complementary plateshowing medical information may be attached to an inside surface of thebracelet.

In every embodiment of the personal object according to the invention,the object may have a cover, hiding the identification plate, which canbe opened manually. This ensures that the confidential medicalinformation on the plate is not outwardly visible if the object turnsover accidently, as in the case of a medal, for example.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description of various embodiments, with reference tothe attached drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the upper surface of a wristwatch according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the lower surface of the watch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section of the watch taken along lineIII--III of FIG 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlargement of a detail of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the initial state of an identification plate disposed onthe lower watch surface;

FIG. 6 shows a ring, located beneath the identification plate, which hasan indication surface;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a first rotatable disk forming part of adisplay device cooperating with the watch face;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a second rotatable disk forming part of thedisplay device;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the device for controlling the displaydevice;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-section taken along line X--X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective of a medal according to theinvention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective of a bracelet according to theinvention.

In a preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 10, the personalobject is a wristwatch 1 comprising a conventional watch case 2 with abracelet 3. Case 2 may be that of a conventional calendar watch designedto display dates and days of the week in the windows of watch face 4,but in this instance, the mechanism has been modified to display othermessages, as will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, on the back ofwristwatch 1, the wearers personal medical information is shown by anidentification plate 5 which at least partially covers an indicationsurface 6, and possibly by complementary plates 7 through 10 attached tothe back of bracelet 3. Thus, when the wristwatch is worn by the owner,the medical information is hidden from view.

Conventional watch hands 11 and 12 display the time on the watch face 4.However, any kind of time display is possible, in particular liquidcrystal display. There is also a time setting crown 13 with the samefunction as in a conventional watch. Watch face 4 bears a standardsymbol such as a red cross or other well known symbol representingmedical care or first aid. The purpose of this symbol is to alertemergency medical personnel to the fact that this is a specialized watchfurnishing medical information. The display means replacing the calendarcomprises a first window 16 and a second window 17 in face 4, a firstrotatable disk 18 (FIG. 7) located behind these windows and havingwarning symbols 19 and 20 which appear selectively in windows 16 and 17once disk 18 has been turned to the appropriate position using thestepping control mechanism activated by button 21. In the presentexample, the display means further comprises a third window 22 behindwhich there is a second rotatable disk 23 (FIG. 8) with a completeseries of conventional symbols 24 regarding blood type and RH factor tofurnish the wearer's blood type. For this purpose the second disk 23also has a stepping control mechanism activated by button 25. Bothbuttons 21 and 25 may be conventionally designed buttons for setting thedate and day of the week, but in this case they are preferably recessedwithin the wall of case 2 to avoid accidental activation. They areactivated with any type of pointed instrument. The disk controlmechanism, which will be described later with reference to FIGS. 9 and10, ensures that the position selected for each disk is permanent andstable; therefore, the user need use button 21 only if his or her healthcondition changes.

As shown in FIG. 7, first disk 18 displays the warning 19 RISK twice, toindicate that a medical risk is shown on the back of the watch, and thewarning 20 MEDI twice, to indicate that the wearer must take medicationregularly. Each warning 19, 20 is in a respective colored zone 26, 27(for example, red to attract attention) on an annular rim on base 28,which is neutral in color, for example, the same color as watch face 4.Two warnings 19, 20, respectively located to the left and at the bottomin FIG. 7, are 90° apart, corresponding to the angle separating windows16 and 17, so that both warnings appear at the same time in thesewindows. The two other warnings 19 and 20 are separated from thepreceding warnings by a different angle (45°), and by an angle from eachother, so they may appear separately in corresponding window 16, 17 whenthe other window is empty. This device ensures that windows 16, 17 candisplay either one of warnings 19, 20, or both, or neither, dependingupon the wearer's health.

FIGS. 9 and 10 schematically represent the mechanism for controllingdisks 18 and 23. This mechanism is actually that of a calendar watch inwhich the means for controlling display through the watch movement hasbeen eliminated. First disk 18, corresponding to the daily disk in acalendar watch, is annular in shape and has along its interior rim astar 29 with 31 spokes cooperating with a jump spring 30 defining andmaintaining each disk position. The second disk 23, corresponding to thedate disk of a calendar watch, is integral with a star 32 with fourteenspokes, cooperating with a jump spring 33 defining and maintaining eachdisk position. Button 21 forms part of a pivoting piece 34 maintained incontact with a pivot 35 by an arm 36 of a spring element 37 attachedwith a pin 38. Piece 34 has a pushing arm 39 which engages one of thespokes of star 29 when button 21 is pushed and, by advancing to position39' shown by dashed lines, rotates disk 18 by one unit. Similarly, torotate star 32, integral with disk 23, by one unit, there is a pivotingpiece 40 held in contact with pivot 41 by a second arm 42 of spring 37.Piece 40 has an angled extremity 43 which pushes spokes 32 into position43' shown by dashed lines.

FIG. 3 shows that case 2 of watch 1 contains, beneath the display devicewith disks 18 and 23, a conventional watch movement 45 for driving hands11 and 12. As is usually the case, the bottom of the case is closed bybase 46 which, in the present case, has the particular shape shown inFIGS. 2 and 4. A groove 47 is formed on the lower surface of base 46 toreceive circular ring 48 and identification plate 5. These two elementsare covered by a crystal 50 held by a rim 51 attached to base 46. Ring48, shown in detail in FIG. 6, supports the indication surface and hastwo opposing protruding elements 52 and 53 which differ in shape andsize, and engage in two respective lateral indentations such as 55 (FIG.4) in base 46 so that ring 48 remains in one position. Indicationsurface 6 has ten equal angular fields 61 through 70 where the medicalindications listed in Table I appear in symbolic or code form,preferably a universal form.

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                        Field       Symbol      Medical Condition                                     ______________________________________                                        61          DIAB        Diabetes                                              62          EPIL        Epilepsy                                              63          ASTM        Asthma                                                64          (drawing)   Pacemaker                                             65          (drawing)   Arterial Hypertension                                 66          ANGIP       Angina                                                67          DIALY       Renal Dialysis                                        68          ALLG        Various Allergies                                     69          HAEMO       Hemophilia                                            70          ANEST       Allergy to Anesthesia                                 ______________________________________                                    

With reference to FIG. 5, identification plate 5 is a circular platewith the same exterior diameter as ring 48. Plate 5 also has twodifferent protruding lateral elements 56 and 57, identical to protrudingelements 52 and 53, which engage in the same openings in order toposition the plate. Any useful information 71 about the wearer can beengraved or printed on plate 5, specifically, his first and last name,address, telephone number. On the perimeter of the plate, notches 72define ten identical segments 73 identified by the numbers 1 through 10,respectively, and which cover fields 61 through 70, respectively, onindication surface 6. Each segment 73 is attached to the rest of theplate by a scored line 74 which can be folded and broken to detach thesegment and reveal the corresponding field. In FIG. 2, for example,segment No. 1 has been removed to reveal the message DIAB in field 61(FIG. 6), showing that the wearer is diabetic.

Complementary plates 7 through 10 shown in FIG. 2 may provide moreprecise information about the warnings shown on indicator surface 6; forexample, by showing the types of allergies concerned. However, theseplates generally are used to show other useful medical information suchas vaccinations, preference regarding organ donation, whether the personis deaf, blind, mute or pregnant. Other useful information includes anytype of medication the wearer uses permanently or regularly, shown bythe warning MEDI on the front of the watch.

Identification plate 5 is a very simple, inexpensive part which offers astandardized display of the principal risks which are important whenfirst aid is required, and which is immediately recognizable in mostlanguages. The plate is easily personalized by inscribing the wearer'sidentity and when necessary, by breaking off one or more of segments 1through 10, preferably after the user's doctor has completed aquestionnaire.

FIG. 11 schematically shows how a personal object according to theinvention may be made in the form of a medal 81 hanging on a neck chain82, with the same information on the front as the watch described above,except there is no time display: the red cross or other similar symbol14, and with windows 16, 17 and 22 of the mechanical display devicebeing housed inside the medal. The back surface of the medal may beidentical to that of the watch, according to FIG. 2. Instead of having acrystal, the medal may be concealed by a pivotable cover 83 similar tothat of a pocket watch.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the invention in the form of abracelet 84, the outer surface of which has a plate with one or morewarning symbols 86, such as a red cross or the message RISK, to indicatethat medical information is provided on the concealed surface of thebracelet. This information is furnished in the same manner as with thewristwatch described above.

I claim:
 1. A personal object that is to be worn by an individual andthat is to provide personal medical information about the individual,comprising:an indication surface (6) having a plurality of fields(61-70) bearing graphical representations of different medicalinformation; an individual identification plate (5) which at leastpartially covers the indication surface (6) and on which can be providedinformation identifying the individual; the identification plate (5)being provided with a plurality of removable segments (73) above thefields (61-70); each removable segment (73) covering one field (61-70)when the segment is attached to the identification plate (5) andrevealing one field when the removable segment is removed from theidentification plate; a location of each removable segment being fixedrelative to the field that the removable segment covers; and eachremovable segment being independently removable in order for theidentification plate to reveal, one of no fields, one field and morethan one field, depending upon the personal medical information to beshown by the wearer of the object.
 2. A personal object according toclaim 1, wherein the personal object is one of a watch, a medal and abracelet.
 3. A personal object according to claim 2, wherein theindication surface (6) and the identification plate (5) are locatedtogether in a groove (47) in a lower surface of the object, while theidentification plate and the groove have complimentary shapes (54-57)around their respective perimeters which define a unique position inwhich the identification plate engages with the groove.
 4. A personalobject according to claim 3, wherein the indication surface (6) islocated on a ring (48) placed in a base of the groove (47) near aperiphery of the groove, and the removable segments (73) are pre-cutportions arranged around an edge of the identification plate (5) and areindividually removable.
 5. A personal object according to claim 2,wherein the indication surface (6) and the identification plate (5) aretogether located on one of an interior and a lower surface of theobject, said surface is hidden from the individual when the object isworn by the individual, and at least one visual warning sign (14, 16-24)is located on an upper surface of the object, said upper surface isvisible to the individual when the object is worn.
 6. A personal objectaccording to claim 5 in the form of a watch (1), wherein the at leastone visual warning sign (14-24) is combined with a face (4) of thewatch.
 7. A personal object according to claim 6, wherein the at leastone window (16, 17, 22) is located in the face (4) of the watch.
 8. Apersonal object according to claim 5, wherein the at least one visualwarning sign comprises a display device having control means (21, 25)and at least one window (16, 17, 22) for selectively displaying thereinat least one warning symbol (19, 20, 24) concerning the personal medicalinformation.
 9. A personal object according to claim 8, wherein the atleast one window displays a blood type of a wearer.
 10. A personalobject according to claim 8, wherein the display device (16-24) islocated inside a case (2) of the watch, between the face and a movementof the watch.
 11. A personal object according to claim 8, wherein thedisplay device comprises a watch face (4), a first rotatable disk (18)located behind the face and associated with the control means, the atleast one window consists of a first and a second window (16, 17) in theface, and at least two different warning symbols (19, 20) located on thefirst disk which can selectively appear in the first and second windows(16, 17).
 12. A personal object according to claim 11, wherein the firstdisk (18) has at least four stable positions and the arrangement of thetwo warning symbols (19, 20) on the first disk is such that the warningsymbols appear in said first and second windows in the following mannerfor said four stable positions:in a first position, neither of the twosymbols; in a second position, both symbols; in a third position, one ofthe symbols; and in a fourth position, the other symbol.
 13. A personalobject according to claim 11, wherein the display device comprises asecond rotatable disk (23) located behind the face, which is associatedwith the control means and which has a circular arrangement of symbols(24) representing different human blood types, corresponding to one ofthe at least one window.
 14. A personal object according to claim 11,wherein the disk or each disk (18, 23) is integral with a star (29, 32),spokes of the star cooperate with a jump spring (30, 33) to definestable disk positions, and the control means comprises a buttonmechanism (21, 25) which acts upon the spokes.